Hare and Hounds: The Overall Guide to Strategy, Winning and Rules

Introduction

Hare and Hounds is a classic strategy game that has been enjoyed by many generations. It is a two-player game that involves strategic thinking and planning. The game is also known as the French Military Game due to its origin in France. The game is played on a rectangular grid of dots, with one player taking the role of the Hare, and the other player taking the role of the Hounds.

The Hare and Hounds game is simple to learn but can be challenging to master. The equipment needed to play the game is minimal – a game board and pieces to represent the Hare and the Hounds. The game board can be drawn on paper, and the pieces can be anything from coins to small objects.

Overall, it’s a classic asymmetric strategy board game that originated during the 19th century. It was first published in 1883 by George Howard Monks. The game is set in a hunting scenario, where one player controls a group of hounds trying to catch the hare, while the other player controls the hare, aiming to outmaneuver the hounds and reach the opposite side of the board.

I remember playing Hare and Hounds with my cousin, who (somehow) found a copy of the game in his parent’s dusty attic. It was a close call, but he outsmarted me in the end. We had a good laugh about it, and I learned a thing or two about strategy that day. It’s a game I’ll always associate with dusty attics.

Rules for playing Hare and Hounds

1. The game begins with the Hare and the Hounds positioned on the game board. The Hare starts at any point on one edge of the board, and the Hounds start at any three points on the opposite edge.
2. The Hare moves first, and then the players take turns moving their pieces. The Hare can move in any direction, including diagonally, but the Hounds can only move forward or sideways, not backwards.
3. The objective of the Hare is to reach the opposite edge of the board from where it started. The objective of the Hounds is to trap the Hare so that it cannot move.
4. The game ends when either the Hare reaches the opposite edge of the board, or the Hounds trap the Hare.

How do you play Hare and Hounds

Setup

The game is set up with the Hare and the Hounds positioned on the game board. The Hare starts at any point on one edge of the board, and the Hounds start at any three points on the opposite edge.

Gameplay

The Hare moves first, and then the players take turns moving their pieces. The Hare can move in any direction, including diagonally, but the Hounds can only move forward or sideways, not backwards.

End of the Game

The game ends when either the Hare reaches the opposite edge of the board, or the Hounds trap the Hare. If the Hare reaches the opposite edge, the Hare wins. If the Hounds trap the Hare, the Hounds win.

How to Win at Hare and Hounds

Winning at Hare and Hounds requires strategic thinking and planning. As the Hare, your goal is to reach the opposite edge of the board. This requires careful planning and anticipation of the Hounds’ moves. As the Hounds, your goal is to trap the Hare. This requires coordination and teamwork.

One strategy for the Hare is to stay close to the edge of the board. This limits the directions in which the Hounds can approach, making it easier to evade them. Another strategy is to create a gap between the Hounds and then slip through it.

For the Hounds, a good strategy is to stay together and move in a coordinated way. This can create a barrier that the Hare cannot pass. Another strategy is to corner the Hare against the edge of the board or a corner.

Best Strategies for playing Hare and Hounds game

The best strategies for playing Hare and Hounds depend on whether you are playing as the Hare or the Hounds. As the Hare, your best strategy is to stay close to the edge of the board and create gaps between the Hounds. As the Hounds, your best strategy is to stay together and move in a coordinated way.

As the Hare, you should also try to anticipate the Hounds’ moves and plan your moves accordingly. As the Hounds, you should try to anticipate the Hare’s moves and trap it.

Scenarios for Hare and Hounds

There are many possible scenarios in a game of Hare and Hounds. Here are a few examples:

1. The Hare is close to the edge of the board, but the Hounds are closing in. In this scenario, the Hare should try to create a gap between the Hounds and slip through it.
2. The Hare is trapped against the edge of the board. In this scenario, the Hare should try to find a way to move diagonally and escape.
3. The Hounds have formed a barrier that the Hare cannot pass. In this scenario, the Hare should try to find a weak point in the barrier and break through it.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Hare and Hounds game

1. What is the objective of the game? The objective of the game is for the Hare to reach the opposite edge of the board, and for the Hounds to trap the Hare.
2. How do you win the game? You win the game by achieving your objective. If you are the Hare, you win by reaching the opposite edge of the board. If you are the Hounds, you win by trapping the Hare.
3. Can the Hounds move backwards? No, the Hounds can only move forward or sideways, not backwards.
4. Can the Hare move diagonally? Yes, the Hare can move in any direction, including diagonally.
5. What is the best strategy for the Hare? The best strategy for the Hare is to stay close to the edge of the board and create gaps between the Hounds.
6. What is the best strategy for the Hounds? The best strategy for the Hounds is to stay together and move in a coordinated way.

External Links

NewVenture Games has a handy video on playing Hare and Hounds [Video]